George Wilbert Smith
Encyclopedia
George Wilbert Smith was a teacher, businessman and politician on the municipal and provincial levels of government in Alberta
, Canada
. He served various posts on the city of Red Deer
, Alberta
council and as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1921 until his death in 1931 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
, Nova Scotia
. He moved west to the Northwest Territories
settling in the Red Deer area in 1883. Smith became the first school teacher in central Alberta.
Smith was also a business man. He founded and served as a director on the Smith Lead Company Ltd. and also served on the board of directors for the Western General Electric Company.
as a candidate under the United Farmers banner. He defeated incumbent John Gaetz
in a two way race with a landslide majority to pickup the Red Deer electoral district for his party.
Smith ran for a second term in the 1926 Alberta general election
. He ran against Gaetz for the second time and Conservative candidate William Payne
in a hotly contested three way race. Smith defeated Payne on the second vote count to hold his seat.
Smith ran for a third term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election
. He faced Payne for the second time in a two way race. The race was very close with Payne finishing 88 votes behind.
Smith's health started to decline, he was hospitalized in Red Deer
, Alberta
in July 1931 due to ailing kidney's. He died on August 1, 1931 of a heart seizure shortly before he was to have surgery for his condition.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served various posts on the city of Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
council and as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1921 until his death in 1931 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
Early life
George Wilbert Smith was born in 1855 in the town of MaitlandMaitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia is a village in the East Hants, Nova Scotia municipal district, and home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He moved west to the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
settling in the Red Deer area in 1883. Smith became the first school teacher in central Alberta.
Smith was also a business man. He founded and served as a director on the Smith Lead Company Ltd. and also served on the board of directors for the Western General Electric Company.
Municipal
Smith served as an Alderman on Red Deer city council for several years before becoming the mayor in 1916. He held the mayoralty until 1918.Provincial
Smith ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
as a candidate under the United Farmers banner. He defeated incumbent John Gaetz
John Gaetz
John Jost Gaetz was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1918 to 1921 sitting with the Liberal caucus in government.-Early life:...
in a two way race with a landslide majority to pickup the Red Deer electoral district for his party.
Smith ran for a second term in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
. He ran against Gaetz for the second time and Conservative candidate William Payne
William Ernest Payne
William Ernest Payne was a lawyer and provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1931 to 1935 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.-Early life:...
in a hotly contested three way race. Smith defeated Payne on the second vote count to hold his seat.
Smith ran for a third term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He faced Payne for the second time in a two way race. The race was very close with Payne finishing 88 votes behind.
Smith's health started to decline, he was hospitalized in Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in July 1931 due to ailing kidney's. He died on August 1, 1931 of a heart seizure shortly before he was to have surgery for his condition.